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Who Sells During a Crash? Evidence from Tax Return Data on Daily Sales of Stock

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  • Jeffrey L Hoopes
  • Patrick Langetieg
  • Stefan Nagel
  • Daniel Reck
  • Joel Slemrod
  • Bryan A Stuart

Abstract

Using United States tax return data containing the universe of individual taxable stock sales from 2008 to 2009, we examine which individuals increased their sale of stocks following episodes of market tumult. We find that the increase was disproportionately concentrated among investors in the top 1% and top 0.1% of the overall income distribution, retired individuals and individuals at the very top of the dividend income distribution. Our estimates suggest that, following the day when Lehman Brothers collapsed, taxpayers in the top 0.1% sold $1.7 billion more in stocks than individuals in the bottom 75%. This difference is equal to 89% of average daily sales by taxpayers in the top 0.1%.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey L Hoopes & Patrick Langetieg & Stefan Nagel & Daniel Reck & Joel Slemrod & Bryan A Stuart, 2022. "Who Sells During a Crash? Evidence from Tax Return Data on Daily Sales of Stock," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(641), pages 299-325.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:132:y:2022:i:641:p:299-325.
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mikhail Samonov & Nonna Sorokina, 2024. "A century of asset allocation crash risk," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(4), pages 383-406, July.

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